WARRINGTON Borough Council says it is already working on a debt reduction plan following calls for meaningful Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) following the Government’s damning Best Value inspection.
The controlling Labour group says debt has already been reduced from £1.9 bn to £1.6 bn over the past year, with further transformation and improvement plans ongoing.
At Full Council, this week, Lib Dem councillor Graham Gowland called for Warrington Borough Council’s newly proposed Transformation and Improvement Group to be governed by clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and public accountability.
Cllr Gowland submitted a formal written question urging the administration to adopt meaningful Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track progress on the Council’s recovery following the Best Value Inspection.
“Given the scale of the failings highlighted in the Best Value Inspection, and the public’s right to see meaningful, measurable progress, can the Leader confirm what objectives and constraints will govern the new Transformation and Improvement Group?”
In particular, Cllr Gowland asked whether the Group’s terms of reference would include clear KPIs for debt reduction, commercial investment reviews, and governance reform—three of the key concerns raised in the Government-commissioned report.
“Residents deserve to see meaningful, trackable progress—not vague commitments,” Cllr Gowland said after the meeting. “That means setting clear targets for fixing what went wrong—and reporting progress not just internally, but publicly to Full Council and to the Government.”
Cllr Gowland’s question reflects growing concern among opposition councillors and residents that reforms may be watered down or hidden behind internal processes.
“The Council cannot afford to retreat into closed-door decision-making. Transparency must be built into every stage of this process if we’re serious about rebuilding trust.”
The Government has appointed Ministerial Envoys to oversee Warrington’s improvement efforts, following the Best Value Inspection’s findings of poor governance, excessive borrowing, and weak internal challenge.
In response, Labour’s Cllr Nathan Sudworth said: “We welcome the continued interest in the council’s recovery and transformation efforts, and particularly the call for transparency and measurable progress.
“I would like to reassure Cllr Gowland, all elected members, and our residents that clear governance, accountability, and performance measurement are central to our transformation and improvement plans, far from being vague or internalised processes.
“The newly created role of Executive Director for Transformation and Improvement is explicitly tasked with designing and implementing the council’s improvement and recovery plan in accordance with the expected Ministerial Directions.
“Cllr Gowland’s emphasis on public reporting is not only noted, it is already explicitly built into the role’s core functions.
“In direct response to the findings of the Best Value Inspection, we are working on a debt reduction plan – we have already reduced our debt from £1.9bn to £1.6bn over the last year. We will also be reviewing all commercial investments, subsidiary companies and governance frameworks, alongside improving the Council’s governance models to embed accountability, scrutiny, and risk management across the organisation.
“We recognise the scale of change needed and we aren’t shying away from it: we are embracing it. Every aspect of the council’s transformation is being designed with transparency, public accountability, and measurable impact in mind.
“We welcome continued scrutiny and input from all elected members and look forward to working together, openly and constructively, to deliver the improvements our residents rightly expect.”
Council Leader Cllr. Hans Mundry added: “In the Council’s formal response to MHCLG on 20 May, following the publication of the Best Value report, the Chief Executive confirmed the Council’s intention to “Create a new Council Committee (Improvement and Recovery) to oversee the production of an Improvement and Recovery Plan within the agreed timescales.”
“The Council will liaise with the Ministerial Envoys, once appointed, on the detailed membership and terms of reference of this Committee to ensure that these are fully supported and agreed by them. The draft Ministerial Directions are clear on the improvement steps required by the council, and the timescales in relation to the reporting of progress on the plan once submitted (which we expect to include detailed performance information) and agreed through to Government as follows:
““To report to the Ministerial Envoys on the development and delivery of the Improvement and Recovery Plan after the first three months, and six months and thereafter at six-monthly intervals, or at such intervals as the Ministerial Envoys may direct”.
He added that Full Council will also be updated as part of this process, with timescales aligned with this reporting, again with the agreement of the Envoys.
3 Comments
This situation continues to be handled in an unacceptable manner.
It simply ain’t good enough to issue a high level statement about debt reduction, without giving us (a) the detail and (b) verifiable evidence so that we can do some due diligence on what we’re being told.
The LibDems are spot on here – continuing with traditional ‘mushroom management’ tactics isn’t acceptable.
The liberal democrats are partially responsible for this financial mess we find ourselves in .
They voted and supported the towns labour party in all their decisions.
I will beleave it when i see it. How long before they start the commercial confidentiality blocking again.